Recovery of CRM, REE, and strategic metals from WEEE by robotic application. Acronym: Robocycler

Opublikowano: 27/10/2025 10:34 am

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Project coordinator: Prof. Roman Szewczyk

Project realization period: June 1, 2025 - December 31, 2026

Budget of the project: 1 216 250 Euro

 

CONSORTIUM PARTNERS

• Leader – Phoenix Surowce sp. z o.o.

• Partner – Warsaw University of Technology (Faculty of Mechatronics)

• Partner – Elektrorecykling S.A.

• Partner – SE&C (Greece)

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Project description:

Critical Raw Materials (CRM) and strategic metals are present in various Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). RoboCycler focuses on Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) as part of WEEE, which pose a challenge as a recycling feedstock is geographically dispersed and current processing of HDD by shredding leads to more than 90% loss of the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) - mainly Rare Earth Element (REE) magnets. From 2010 to 2020, more than 4 billion HDD were produced worldwide, approximately 30% used in Europe. They are expected to be phased out by 2030 due to wear-off and replacement by Solid-State Drives (SSD). The RoboCycler brings into the market a novel robotic solution for HDD recycling allowing more than 99% recovery of the Critical Raw Materials (CRM), Rare Earth Elements (REE).

Phoenix (New Associate Partner), a start-up supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Raw Materials (EITRM), has designed and demonstrated a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 innovative 100% sustainable 3.5” HDD recycling solution for Critical Raw Materials (CRM) and Rare Earth Element (REE) magnets (Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), Dysprosium (Dy), Cobalt (Co)). The proposed solution has been awarded a Polish Patent (P.442340) and is currently under evaluation for a European Union Patent (EP23198507.8).

A start-up will be created with the inclusion of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Manufacturing (EITM) for the demonstration of the process on additional types of HDDs, including 2.5” drives and Solid-State Drives (SSD), and for the disassembled components. The latter components will be offered to buyers for reuse. Additionally, Elektrorecykling S.A. will supply the HDDs and support the start-up with their worldwide sales channels.

The process automation with Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be improved additionally by the academic partner Warsaw University of Technology (WUT). Sustainable Energy Cluster (SEC) will be responsible for the dissemination and diffusion of RoboCycler results to provide a valuable path for the market.